Beet-loading machine.



R. LHIEKE. BEET LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATIQN FILED JUNE 26. 1911. 1,260,059, Patente-d Mar. 19, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR WITNESSES R. E. RIEKE.

BEET LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI-126. 19H.

Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

4 SHEETS-Sgam 2.

mvx-:Nrorfe l ATTORNEY R. E. RIEKE.

BEET LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE26, i917.

1,260,059. Patented lum-.19, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR W|TNEssEs 55.6225?? UKW g? @Mgg/m@ R. E. mE'KE.

BEETLOADING MACHINE.

' APH-CANON FILED JUNE 25 19|7| 1,260,959. Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

4 'SHEETS-SHEET 4.

INVENTOR WITNEssEs Ma-'d I l V mm BAY E. RIEKE, 0F STERLING, COLORADO.

BEET-LOADING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 19, 191,8.

Application filed June 26, 1917. Serial No. 177,124.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, RAY E. RIEKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sterling, in the county of Logan and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Beet-Loading Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to beet loaders of that class which are used for loading or transferring beets from a pile resting on the ground to a wagon or other receptacle, it being understood that while the device is characterized as a beet loader, it may be utilized for loading any other material that is capable of being handled thereby.

In the beet industry it is quite common for the farmers to place the beet roots on the ground near some convenient railway station, the beetsbeing shoveled into a pile which frequently contains several thousand tons, shelter being rarely provided or needs ed, and the beets being simply left until 'such time as it is convenient for the sugar factory to take care of them. When such time arrives, it has been customary to load or shovel the beets manually into wagons which are then driven up an inclined plane yto a platform from which the beets may be dumped from the wagons, which are specially constructed for this purpose, into the railway cars for transportation to the factory. This work of loading the beets is extremely heavy and onerous, as well as expensive. My present invention has for its object to produce a machine whereby the work of loading the beets from the pile to the wagon may be performed in a simple and expeditious manner and without the hard work attending the manual loading of the beets.

A further object of the invention is to produce a motor driven beet loader, mounted on wheels in such a manner that the carrying and transporting wheels would not conliict with the pile of beets to be operated upon.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and eflicient machine whereby the beets may be loaded without being bruised to a damaging extent.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the construction and arrangement of the parts entering into the construction of the improved beet loader.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which ,will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed'out in the claims.

In the accompanyino drawing has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that nolimitation is necessarily made to the precise struc-tural details therein exhibited,

'but that changes,` alterations and modilications within the scope 'of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top .plan- `View of a machine constructed in accordance with the invent1on.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on the line 2-2 in. Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transversesectional View taken on the line 3--3 injFig. l.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 in Figgl.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation.

Fig. 6 is a detail view in side elevation of one of the lifting devices.

Fig.7 is a detail view in side elevation and enlarged 0f one ofthe lifting members or wedges and related parts.

Fi 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing t eparts in a different position.

Fig. 9 is a sectional-detail view taken on the line 9-9 in Fig. 8';

Fig. 10. is a sectional detail View taken on the line 10--70 in Fig. 7.

Corresponding parts in the several gures of the drawings are denoted by like characters of reference.

The lframe of the improved machine is composed of twois'ide-.walls or side members 15, the same being connected together and spaced apart by cross bars 17 provided at the ends thereof with downwardly extending divergent arms o r brackets 18 which are secured on the outer faces of the side walls, the cross bars 17 bein-g positioned adjacent ltoo the top edges of said side walls or memers.

Reach bars 19 and 20 are securely connected withl the cross bars 17 with respect to which .said reach barsa're diagonally disposed. Each of the reach bars is provided near the rearward end thereof with a downwardly offset portion 21, said offset portions being provided with bearings for the axle 22 having the traction wheels 23. The reach bars, which are obliquely disposed with respect to ther frame structure, are of like or similar construction, but the` reach bar 19 terminates adjacent to the front cross bar 17 while the reach bar 20 is extended forwardly and laterally with respect to the frame and is provided with steering wheels 24 for the proper manipulation of which a steering gear 25 is provided. Both the steering Wheels 24 will thus be located entirely adjacent to one side of the forward end of the frame structure so as not to interfere with the operation of the mechanism carried by the latter when the machine is in motion. The frame structure, which is diagonally disposed with respect to the reach bars, while'located mainly intermediate the traction wheels 23 will be extended'materially beyond the outer face of the traction wheel at the side of the machine opposite to the steering wheels,4 thus enablingthe mechanism carried by the frame structure to pick up material lying in advance of the said traction wheel at one side of the machine.

The beet lifting mechanism -of the improved loader is essentially composed of two separate and independent members which for convenience will be known as the lifting aprons A and B. Each of said aprons is composed of front and rear cross bars, those of the apron A being designatedby 26 and 27 and those of the apron B being designated by 26 and 27. -The front cross bars 26 and 26 are provided with uprights 28 and 28 and the cross bars 27 and 27 are provided with uprights 29 and 29, said uprights of the rear cross bars being materially higher than those associated with the front cross bars. The uprights 28 and 28. of the front cross bars 26 and 26 are disposed in staggering relation with respect to each other, and the uprights 29 and 29 associated with the rear cross bars 27 'and 27 are likewise staggered, thus placing the low uprights 28 in longitudinal alinement with the high uprights 29. The uprights 28 and 29 are used to support longitudinally disposed inclined lifting bars 30 and thev uprights 28 and 29 are utilized to support similar lifting bars 31, the lifting bars 30 and 31 being thus disposed in alternate order. Of these lifting bars any desired number may be used according to the dimensions of the machine, it being understood that the bars 30 and 31 are preferably spaced from one to one-half inches apart. For convenience in illustration, a less number of lifting bars has been shown in the drawing. It will, of course, be understood that the bars 30 are associated with the lifting member or apron designated by A while the bars 31 are associated with the apron B, one of said aprons being disposed slightly in advance ofthe other. 65 The ends of the cross bars 26 and .26', and

vwedges may be depressed toward the bot- 27 and 27 are extended through slots 32 in the side walls of the frame, near the lower edges of said side walls, and it will be observed that the front and rear uprights of said cross bars are so proportioned that the lifting bars 30 and 3l will be thereby supported in a downwardly and forwardly inclined position with the forward ends of said bars in substantially ground engaging position. The bars 30 and 31 are of what is sometimes known as sh-back construction; that is to say, they are provided in the upper faces thereof'with pockets 33 having substantially vertical front walls 34 and inclined bottom walls 35 whereby when the machine is in operation material engaged by said bars will be gradually lifted or elevated toward the rearward end of the frame of the machine.

' The elongated slots 32 that receive the ends .of the cross bars of the respective aprons A and B are made of proper dimensions to receive lifting members consisting of wedges 35 that are tapered in a forward direction, each of said wedges being supported at its rearward end by a spring 36 mounted exteriorly on the frame of the machine and having a U-shaped end portion or bracket 37 with which the heel of the wedge member 35 is pivotally connected, being thus supported clear of the bottom of theslot. The wedge members 35 are thus virtually suspended within the elongated slots 32, and in such a manner that the front ends of said tom walls of the slots while the heel ends of the wedges are free to move, slightly upwardly or downwardly as may be required. The cross bars of the aprons A and B are extended -into and through the slots 32, and said cross bars areprovided with loose antifriction members or rollers 38 and with limiting stopssuch as the ianges or collars 39 whereby/,the longitudinal movement of the cross bars with respect to the rollers will be limited. The slots 32 are provided with side walls or flanges 40 which serve to confine the rollers 38 within the respective slots and enable the cross bars to move longitudinally of the rollers when actuated by means to be presently described.

The side walls of the frame are provided with rearwardly extending brackets 41 affording bearings for a shaft 42 having oppositely extending lcranks 43 -'and 44 which 120 are connected by rods or pitmen 45 and 46 with the front cross bars 26 and 26 of the aprons A and B, respectively. When the-"i shaft 42 is rotated, the aprons A and B .will be reciprocated longitudinally in opposite directions. When either apron moves in a rearward direction, the rollers on the cross bars of such apron will ride upwardly overY the inclined top faces of the wedges 35 until the rearward limit of the movement of such gate is reached. The rollers 38 vwill now rop downwardly behind theheel ends of the wedges and, while the apron is moving forwardly, the rollers will travelon the bottom walls of the respective slots beneath the wedges which latter, as stated, are supported by the springs 36 whereby the front ends of the wedges are impelled downwardly in the direction of the bottom walls of the slots. As the rollers advance in a forward direction, the forward ends of the wedges will be lifted until the rollers pass in advance of the wedges when the tapered ends of said wedges will gravitationally drop in engagement with the bottom walls of the slots so as to present no obstruction to the rearward movement of the rollers as soon as such movement begins to take place. It will be seen that by this arrangement each apron virtually receives an orbital movement in a substantially vertical plane, and furthermore, that, owing vto the fact that one apron advances when the other recedes, the receding apron moves in an upward direction, thereby lifting or elevating the material supported thereon until it reaches the rearward limit of its movement, when the material will be deposited on the other apron which now begins its receding movement. Material engaged by or-placed upon the respective aprons will thus be elevated while it is traveling rearwardly with respect to the frame of the machine.

Apart from its longitudinal orbital movement, each apron receives a lateral vibratory movement by means provided for the purpose, said means including a longitudinal shaft 47 which is supported on thecross bars 17. 'The shaft 47 has a crank 48,-which is connected by a rod or pitman 49 with the apex of apyoke4 50 which is supported for rocking movement on the outer side face of one of the side walls 15 ofthe frame, said yoke having downwardly extending vertically disposed limbs 51 which are connected by rods or pitmen 52 with the cross bars of the respective aprons thereby imparting to said aprons, simultaneously, a transverse vibratory or reciprocatory motion, such movement being made possible by the fact that the cross bars of the respective gates are free to slidelongitudinally of the antifriction rollers which latter are confined between the flanges 40 of the slots 32 wherein they operate. Thus, when the machine advances, the lifting bars receive what might be termed a zigzag movement, due partly to the advancing movement of the machine and partly to the transverse vibratory movement to which they are subjected, and which has been found highly effective in engaging the material that is to he loaded =or transported. Supported at the rearward end of the machine, transversely of the frame, is a conveyer 53 having an inclined extension 54. constituting an elevator. The conveyer 53 is conveniently arranged to receive material discharged over the rearward ends of the lifting bars of the respective aprons A and B, and the elevator conveyer is arranged to elevate such material and to discharge the same into a receptacle such as the box of the wagon which is arranged or driven alongside of the loader.

For convenience in driving the machine and its moving parts, a motor 55 may be mounted in any convenient location on the frame of the machine, said motor consisting of an-internal combustion engine or an engine of any desired type. Motion may be transmitted from this motor not only to the driving shaft or axle having the traction'wheels, but also to the shafts 42 and 47, as well as to the driving means of the elevator conveyer. Such means for Atransmitting motion, however, are well known and need not be described 'in' detail, it being also understood that well known means for varying the speed and for checking or interrupting the motion of any driven part may be provided at will and in any suitable location. It has been pointed out that the frame structure of the machine, including the loading aprons, is disposed obliquely with respect to the traction and supporting wheels. It follows that when the machine is in use it may be driven along side of a pile of beets without injuring or bruising the latter by the wheels of the machine. The lifting bars of the respective aprons will be disposed obliquely to the side of the pile and as the machine is driven slowly alongside the pile, the forward ends of the lifting bars, being in substantially groundengaging position, will wiggle beneath the beets and at the same time receive the latter in the pockets 33, the beets being thus gradually carried vrearwardly and deposited on the conveyer elevator whereby they will be discharged into the wagon or receptacle provided for the purpose. The work of loading the beets will thus be performed very easily and expeditiously and without injuriously bruising or otherwise damaging the beets.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a loading machine, traction wheels and guiding wheels, a frame supported by said wheels obliquely to the line of progress, said frame being supported substantially between the traction wheels with its forward end portion extended materially beyond the outer face of one of the traction wheels and the guide wheels being arranged adjacent to the other side of the frame, and 'lifting elements supported on the frame for engagement with objects lying in the path of that portion of the frame which projects beyond the outer face of one of the traction wheels.

2. In a loading machine, traction wheels and guiding wheels, a frame supported by lsaid wheels obliquely to the line of pro ress, said frame being supported substantial y between the traction wheels with its forward end portions extended materially beyond the outer face of one of the traction wheels and the guide wheels being arranged adjacent to the other side of the frame, and lifting elements supported on the frame for engagement with objects lying in the path of that portion 0f the frame which projects beyond the outer face of one of the traction wheels, said lifting elements having forwardly eX- tended ground engaging portions.

' 3. In a loading machine, traction wheels and guiding wheels, a frame supported by said wheels obliquely to the line of progress, said frame being supported substantially between the tractionv wheels with its forward end portion extended materially beyond the outer face of one of the traction wheels and the guide wheels being arranged adjacent to the other side of the frame, and lifting elements supported on the frame for engagement with objects lyin in the path of that portion of the frame w ich projects beyond the outer face of one of the traction wheels, said lifting elements having forwardly eX- tended ground engaging portions, in combination with means for actuating the said liftin elements.

4. n a machine of the class described, a frame structure having side walls provided with elongated slots, lifting aprons having front and rear cross bars extending through said slots, said cross bars being provided with loose anti-frictiony rollers and with stops to limit the longitudinal movement of said cross bars with respect to the rollers, inclined lifting bars carried by the respective cross bars, wedges arranged in the respective slots, springs whereby said wedges are suspended with their tapered front ends depressed toward thev bottom walls of the slots, and means for reversely reciprocating the respective aprons.

5. In a machine of the class described, a frame structure havin side walls provided with elongated slots, ifting aprons having front and rear cross bars extending through said slots, said cross bars being provided with loose anti-friction rollers and with stops to limit the longitudinal movement of said cross bars withrespect to the rollers, inclined lifting bars carried by the respective cross bars, wedges arranged in the respectiveslots, springs whereby said wedges are suspended with their tapered front ends depressed toward the bottom walls of the slots, and means for reversely reciprocating the respective aprons, in combination with means whereby a transverse vibratory movement will be simultaneously imparted to the respective aprons.

6. In a loading machine,ythe combination with wheeled supporting means, of`a frame structure, lifting aprons each comprising front and rear cross bars and inclined pocketed lifting bars supported thereby, means whereby the respective aprons will be orbitally guided and reeiprocated, one apron adand inclined lifting bars supported thereby,

said lifting bars having substantially ground engaging front ends projecting forwardly of the frame structure, and means for imparting to said lifting aprons orbital movements in substantially vertic'al planes, one apron advancing while the other recedes.

8. In a loading machine, tractionwheels and guide wheels, a frame supported by said wheels obliquely to the line of progress, lifting aprons supported on said frame, each apron comprisinofront and rear cross bars and inclined lifting bars supported thereby, said lifting bars having substantially ground engaging front ends projecting forwardly of the frame structure, and means for imparting to said lifting aprons orbital movements 1n substantially vertical planes, one apron advancing while the other recedes, and additional means whereby the lifting aprons will be simultaneously vibrated transversely of the orbital movement.

9. A machine for' handling and loading material which is arranged in a stack or pile of materially greater width than the width of the 'loading apparatus, said machine comprising a wheeled frame and a conveying and lifting device supported by said frame and arranged obliquely with respect thereto, said lifting and conveying device havin a front portion which is extended materizly beyond the outer faces of the wheels at one y RAY E. RIEKE. 

